Q Magazine, the UK's biggest-selling monthly music rag, is set for a relaunch-cum-redesign next month. The change will reflect the increased profile of downloading.

The change could also spell disaster. Remember when Select changed its design (for the better in my opinion - they gave Stuart Mogwai a column!)? They died a few issues later. And with the closures of X-Ray and Bang fresh in the memory, could publishers Emap be taking drastic measures to ensure the survival of one of its most successful brands?

Apparently not: the magazine's redesign has been prompted by consumers' increasing interest in single tracks, rather than whole albums (i.e. they download more single tracks than whole albums). Editor Paul Rees (formerly of Kerrang!, another Emap magazine that recently went through something of an overhaul) stated: "There's been a
change in the market since Q launched, when it was essentially the CD
buyer's guide. We were the first in the market but now loads of magazines
are covering music, from the Observer supplement to the men's mags."

Rees also admitted that sales were on a slope, heading downwards, and the relaunch is aimed at combatting an expected sales slump in August. He also said: "We want to get Q's sense of
authority back. There's been too much worrying about what other magazines
are doing. We want a return of confidence. It's a magazine with a proud
history and the challenge is to make people follow us."

But will they follow him, or will more readers of the magazine defect to the likes of the ever-improving Mojo? Is Q really the authority it claims to be, and will it be able to keep up with internet technology considering it's a printed publication? Only time will tell. For now, what do you think? Is the magazine past its prime, or is it all we have left in terms of non-genre specific, quality monthlies?